Printing machine having a changeable form



Nov. 13, leza 1,691,301

' H. C. OSBORN PRINTING MACHINE HAVING A CHANGEABLE FORM Filed Nov. 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwuawtw Gual/nga Nov. 13,1928. 1,691,301

H. c. osBoRN PRINTING MACHINE HAVING A CHANGEABLE FORM Filed N0v.27, 1926 5 sheets-sheet 2 r'lcTrd In/vanto@ @Wn/weg! l Nv.'l3, 1928. 1,691,301

H. c. osaoRN PRINTING CHINE HAVING A CHANGEABLE FORM Filed Nov.27, 1 .926 45 Sheets-Sheet 3 War/:2. ma fm Nov. 13, 1928.

H. C. OSBORN PRINTING MACHINE hAVING A CHANGEABLE FORM Filed Nov.2'7, 1925 5 Sheets- Sheet 4 F1 Gf 5 FIG@ 7 ygrannie 13%,

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5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gnwnfoz www@ H. c. csBoRN PRINTING MICHINE HAVING A CHANGEABLE FORM Nov. 13, 1928.

Filed No'v. 27. 1926 Patented Nov. 13,1928.

UNITED STATES,

1,691,3o1gi` PATENT oFFlCE.

HENRY C. osBonN, `or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIGNonfro THE AMERICAN MULTIGEAPH COMPANY, 0E CLEVELAND,` OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO. v

PRINTING MACHINE. lHAVING. A CHANGEAELE FORM.l

Application filed November 27, 192. n Serial No. 151,091.

This invention relates to a machine for vprinting with a form periodically changed, coupled with mechanism for keeping a rec- Ord of the matter changed. TheI invention may for example be-used for printing a list of addresses corresponding to the addresses successively printed on individual mail mathave shown the invention embodied in ra machine adapted to list the printed items on a continuous strip of paper fed from a roll. vI have satisfactorily usedsuch an em.- bodiment for example, for printing and list ing the amounts vand names of the payees of checks. Such machine is vvery useful for printing dividend checks, where the name and amount are likely to recur at successive periods.

My invention is hereinaftermore fully explained in connection withthe drawings and the essential novel features are summarizedin the claimsf i In the drawings Fig. 1l is a vertical transverse section througha machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a longitudinally vern tical section substantially on the plane indieated by the Offset linek 22 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is al transverse vertical section onk a plane indicated bythe line 3,-3 on Fig. 2 looking in the opposite direotionto Fig/1; Fig. 4 is an approximately horizontal section through the lister platen and an ad`-` jacent portion of the machine, as indicated. by the line 4-4 on Fig..1; Fig. 5 is a hori- Zontal section through the supply roll vand the takeup roll of the listerattachment, as j indicated by thej-Oiiset line 54-5 on Fig. `1; Fig. 6 isa perspective of a portion of the printing drum; Fig.-7 isa face view of an illustrative checlradaptedto be filled in with this machine. The remaining fguresillustrate a modification. Fi'gjS isa sectional elevation on a plane similar to l; Fig. S) is a horizontal section onthe `line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig'. 10 is .a sectionalside elevation of gearing for the platen. drive, looking in the same direction as Figj; Fig. 11-isa perspective of one" ofthe members. of the 'clutch fonthelister platen; Fig. 12 .is a detail in edge view of the` clutch controlling lever. i That portion of the i mechanism `shown which prints the checln'enve'lope or card, for example` consists of va multigraph having a changeable form slidably mounted. on itspe riphery after the manner of application kNo. f

11,224iled` Apr. 77V 1926, by John H. Hult, and assigned to my assignee, The American Multigraph Co. Briefly such printing mechanism may be described as follows:

Verticalframe platesl() and 11 connected by a' base portion 12 constitutethe frame of the machine. In the plates 10 and 11 is mounted a rotatable` main` shaft7 shown as driven bya crank 15. On this main shaft is a skeleton drum consisting of disc-like end members 16 Vand 17 and a removable partly cylindrical segment *18 mounted thereon. The drawings show the segment as'held in place by spring hooks` 19 engaging -the shaft 14..

Une portionl of the multiple form in the drawings comprises a printing blanket2() vbooked at one `end to a iiXed longitudinal bar 21, and at the `other end to a movable y bar 22, which is mounted Ona member 23 movab-ly clamping the shaft 14 and pressed.

away from the edge of the segment by a jamb screw 25. Another portion of `the form is a similar but smaller blankety26 'anchored kto a fixed bar 27 and to a bar '28x hinged `rto the segment `and pressed v away from It by screw 29.V As shown 1n Figs. 1

yand 6 the blankets 2O and 26 are sheet metal plates #having rows oit'- upstanding projections 38 carrying removable embossed strips 39. y

A third portion of the: form, as shown. comprises a removable plate `3() ofr trough` shape, carrying the changeable portion of the formfand slidably mounted in ways H provided by the bars 21 and 27 `andresting .remove it entirely.

The changeableplate shown corresponds to `t-hat shown and claimed inmy prior ap 3l`ications Nos. 106,792 and 128,760, tiled` ll ay 5th, .1S-)261mm Aug. 12th, 1926,.resyjieetvely.

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In. these bracketsr are mountedv ,adjustabley I wardly lianged edges extending' beneath the i 1 1e its 1 ni be ri o lo ml bl lc 20aid26 a efo ned in a somewhat similar manner.

The end members 15and 17 of the drum rcarry ribbon spools from which an inl*- ing ribbon extends about the entire formV `troni one spool to 'the other.

l A drum yso equipped iis adapted to print 'on paper passed between it and roller platen 60, shown asino-tinted beneath and geared to it. The roller platen is preferably mounted on. ashatt 61 eccentrically mounted in aljiistable-bearings, and the gearing` tor driving the platen may comprise a 'gear 65 on the drum, a-meshinggear 66 onv the platen, and au Gldhain coupling'connecting the gear with the platen. S i-table feed rolls 70, Fig. 1, may control the :feed in any wellknown manner. This View illustrates also at 71 ak suitable ejecting roll. Fig. 8 indicates atf72 gearing *for drivingthe ecsing roll from the gear and at 'kgearing for driving the under yfeed roll from the platen gearG'G; I f

Such mechanism as described is adapted', for example, fory lilling in check blanks fed betweenthe drum and platen. rthe small blanket 26 may readily carry the check numbei'L and date, while the amount ot the check and name of the payee may be carried by the changeable plate`30.A 1n operation the drum is given suceessive rotations always in the lsaine direction, a new plate 30 being substitiyltedv at ythe end ot' each rotation. 1n filling in checks the blanket 20.may be idle, as shown,A or by means lott the two blankets the entire check may be printed by this machine il desired. For `other uses, the

.lined 'and cliangcalile parts oi" the form may be made upr in great variety of ways, accordingto the: imprints and lists desired.

' To .keep a listv of 'the'nainegfand addresses of the -payees andthe amounts `of various checks-'thus .illustrating;V the listing :operation-I provide thelisterwmechanism in two forms, one shown particularly lin Figs. Yl, and 5, andthe other ,in 8 to 12 inclusive. The firstv torni will now be described.

Secured to the rear edges' of theframe platesrlO and l1 are bracketsV 80 and 81.

bearings 82 and 83, in which is ecoentrically mounted a shaft S4 carrying a roller 85. with I the brackets SO-and 81, is astationary rod on'. which is a spool 91 carrying asupply yroll 92 of paper. The strip of paper passesv `103and adapted to beturnedby it,

llt'i'oifn the under side of this roll 92 beneath the platen 86 and upwardlyon the forward face thereof and behind a guide rod to areceiving spool 101 mounted ona shaft This shaft isjournaled on bearing pins 10-1, 10.3

carried,bythe-brackets 80 rarid 81, and isv provided with a gear 107 which is connected byan idler 108 with a gear 88 on theshaft 84, which carries the lister platen'.` This gear 88 is connected by a lexible coupling with this platen, and meshes with the Igear 65 on the drum. y

It follows trom the' constructiondescribed that as the multigraph drum is rotated the lister attachment is. idle until the plate 30 comes into coaction with the platen 86 ;y then this platen, coacting with the printing forni on the plate, ynot yonly causes printing onv the .strip 92', but feeds it upwardly at the same" time, the'excess of paper being taken up-,by the spoollOl friotionally dri'yen bythe shalt y103. Except kwhen the plate 30 is opposite the platen 86, therotation of the platen` does not t'eedfthepaper, Vby reason of a tension on the supply roll,` n'or'isthe rictiondrive slicient tot-urn the spool 101. l willnow explain'thisrmore in detail with reference to F1555. y'

"lhejsupply.roll shaft 90 is a stationary rod having lattened'end `pintions 110 re# movably occupying Verticali slots -in the traine 1nembers 80 and 81. f This rod is surroundedby a" bushing 112, which. makes an abutment for an end disk 113 tor the spool 91. At'the other end of the spool is slidably mounted a disk llpressed toward the spool by a compression spool 116, which surrounds the rod' and thrusts against acollar lladjustably clamped on the rod 90 by set screw,

118.V By adjusting the position the. collar,

trated, the matter von the check with theexception oii-the changeable portions'is supposed tobe printed at some preceding` time. The check number (1.1 and the date al may be readily inserted by the strips 39 on the small blanket 26. The amount ot the check 4and the name ofA the adc ress and payee., shown at a2 and a?, may all be supplied' by embossed printing strips 37.011 the` plate 30.

'The blanket 261sshown as located longitudinally beyond and offset from the platen 86. Thus there is no coaetion between them. rEhe entire fill-in matter in the plate 80, however, is printed onfthe paper strip 192. lt is desirable to leave a short blank'space on this paper strip betweens'uccessive items printed. I have found that Anotwithstanding the positive feed caused by the kengagement of the plate printing strips with the platen, momentum gives the strip a slight additional feed and Lprovides the ldesired spacey between the successive imprints on the prints. This space may be reduced by increasing the pressure oit the brake spring 116, or increased by weakening this pressure, acording to the adjustment of the collar 1.1i. .f

Sometimesit is desirable to list matter on only shortstrips of paper,'the samebeing torn ott from the rest oit the strip instead of being rolled up on thetakeup spool.` For such purpose, I provide a tork which may be carried onl the trame plate S0. The ribbon may be threaded vthrough this fork as illustrated'at 92a in Fig. 1 and dropped down Vbehind the supplyroll, and then at any time the end portion of the stripfmay be tornol byusing `the upper tine of the fork as a `knife edge. j l l For many uses of my invention it may be desired to print matter by the. drum and main platen, which is not so positioned as. to avoid coming opposite the lister platen.

The blanket 2O provides formounting such additional printing matter in various posi-` tionson the drum. In cases where themachine is intended for` use with other matters circumferentiallyl vregistering with the changeable form I substitute for the constantly driven vcylindrical lister pla-ten, a Such segmental platen is normally away irornthe printing drum and has .no coaction with the l'natter on the blanket which; maymovepast such platen, but, at the desired time, an adjustable camion the drum--may operate to throw in' a clutch connecting thesegmental Aplaten witlrtlie drum, so that it will then rotate and coact with: the matterv ronf the changeable plate to print such matter.A .The inodiiication, Figs. 8412, illustrates "such construction land operation and willnow be described. K `1` j i Fig. 8 shows the segmental lister rplaten in its active position; it is normally idle and. in av position distant'from the drum. This platen is loose on the shaft 131 but may be driven by a gear 132 'loose `on the bearing stud 138 and meshingy with the gear-65 on the drum. The platen is connectable for" rotation with the gear 132 yby a single rotation clutch designated 140' as a whole.

One member of theV clutch 140 consists ot a disc l4lrigid with the vgear 1,32 andshown as pinned to axhubboflthe .,gear. Another yon the listing strip.

member consists of the disc `142.1'igid, with the platen. A third member comprises an intermediate disc 143A having radial ribs 1,44 occupying corresponding. grooves in the disc 142 a'ifter the manner of an Oldham coupling. The linalamember of the clutch comprises a locking pin 145 adapted to lock the/members 141-and 143 together, this locking pin beingslidably mountedin the member 141 and adaptedto engage awnotch 148 in the member 143. The pin 145 normally held withdrawnby a lever 150l positioned by a spring '151 but operated at the proper time by a Cam 152 adjustably positioned 0n the drum, engaging afroller 153 on thek lever.

With the construction just described, as the changeable form on` the drum is `coining into position adjacent the platen 130, the cam lgengages the roller 153 and operates vthe trip lever 150 t0 tree the pin 145, there upon, 'a spring 149 seats the pin in the notch 14,8, engaging the clutch. The platen 130 now makes one complete rotation yat the sameperipheral speed as the drum and thus the matter on the changeable plate is printed This same printing operatesto Jfeed the kstrip upwardly and the frictional take-upv roll heretofore described may wind in the printed portion At the l end of the rotation the head on vthe pin 145 engagesthe beveled end y154 (Fig. l2) ot' the lever and withdraws itself, thus opening theifclu'tch.` i f suitable brake is supplied for the segmental .platen which liurnishes a constant friction, suilicient to stop the platen `immediately when the clutch pin is withdrawn but not suliicient` tofadd a material load to the drive` when theclutch `is engaged. As shown in" Fig. 9, this brake comprises a non-rotatable disc slidably mounted on a f supporting` stud "161i` and pressed by springs 162 against a leather washer 164 between the disc andthe adjacent end ot the platen. j

employing this nlorn'ially inactive seg imental platen controlled `by a clutch under thefcontrol of an adjustable ca1non the drum,fl may mount `,on the drum by means ota blanket 20 i `matter circumlerentially rregistering with the changeable form. vSuch employment,therefore increases the range of use `ofthe machinefwer the simpler torni It will befseen that my .lister attaclnnent does not interfere with normally` printing action vof the inultigraph machine. lt is' adapted formounting on frame plates obli an" addressingV multigraph and ycooperates with it'withoutchange in the multigraph. The listing attachment kyis very simplein construction, 'and experience has demonstratedthat it is very Veffective in keeping a record ofthe changeable matter printed.

This record isvery usefulvnet Aonly of such workot keepingtrackvoiL the addresses and amounts of checks or bills, but may advantageously be-usedtor example in leeping a'list yot addressesV of -theindividuals to whom addressed circulars are sent, thus aiding materially in a follow-upV system. It the address plates are arranged. alphabetically in. the original' receptacle, the 4list will be correspondingly alphabetical, and thus a permanent record obtained in `which every name may be readilylocated. VI claim: A i.

l. The combination eta printing member, a set of mutually*independent address plates adapted to be individually*mounted thereon successively, a roller platen adapted to coact therewith, a second rollerplaten adapted to eoact with the samey address plates while on the printing member, and` means orholding a roll ot paper 'passing ybetween the second platen and the torni. f i c 2. The combinati-on of a rotary drum, a set ot mutually independent addressplates adapted to be mounted in any order after the other on the drum, two rotary platens coacting with the address plate, and means for holding a roll oil paper with paper passingrronithe roll between the seeondl platenl and address plate..l`

3. VThe combination of a rotary drum, a longitudinal slidewayy inthe surface thereof,

open at one end,a series ot changeable forms, any one of which may be slid longitudinally into place in the slideway on the drum, al rotary platen coacting with the form, a second platen adapted to coact with thev 'ornml rand means for passing paper betweeirthe drum and second platen without ndischarging it,`

whereby successive yimprints may be made on the same piece.

t. The combination ot a rotary drum, a longitudinal slideway in the surtac'ethereof, open- `at one end, a series ot changeable forms, any one oif'which may beslid longiytuoinally into place in the slidewayon the drum, a rotary platen eoacting withv the form, an ninlring ribbon mounted on the.V

drumand extending across the form, va second n platen adapted to coast with the torni, and means :tor passing a continuous strip 'otpaper between the form and second platen andretaining it r' a subsequent impression. f Q if i 5. The conibinatimi ot a rotary'drunna longitudinal slideway in the surface there-y of, open it one end, a series ot changeable one ofwliielifinay be" slid longitudinally into place inthe sli-dewav on tlie drum,r a rotary platen eoacting with the form, an inkin'g ribbon mounted on the drum and extending` across the storm, a second platen adapted to eoaetVr with the term, mea-ns Jfor holding a roll of paper, and means l'orfteed-l n ing ypaper therefrom `betweenthe drum and platen.

l(l. The combination ot'V a4 rota-ry printing drum, a platen eoacting therewith, a second platen eoacting with the drum, a spool carrying ay roll of paper which passes between the second platen and drum, a brake retarding theunwindin-g ot the spool, and x a series of address plates slidably mounted one at a time onthe drum and adaptedto coaet with both platens.

adapted' tov coact with the address Jplates,

whereby a second impression may be made by the; plate without changing its position on the drum, a roll of paper threaded be'- tween the drum and second platen, a takeup roll forsaid paper, means tor trietionally driving the take-up roll and an adjustable brake on the supply roll.

8. The combination' of a rotary printing drum, a seriesot address platesa'dapted t-o be selectively i `mounted thereon, two roller platens coa-@ting therewith, means for feedingslieets ol paper between -the drum'and oneof the platens, a. spool adapted to carry a roll of paper from whichA the strip passes vbetween the'drum and the other; platen, a

spool for winding in the paper after leaving the ydrum and latter platen, a spring. brake on the supply roll, a spring friction drive for Ithe .take-up roll, the spring applying the friction itor'thetalzeP-up being materially lighter than the brake: spring.' on thel supply roll. f f Y 9. The combination of a rotary printing drum having on its surface a longitudinal slideway parallel with the axis, a series of A address plates any otwhich may be mounted in sai-,d slideway, a roller platen beneath the drum, a second roller platen behind the drum, means `for supporting a. roll of paper at the .rear of, the second platen, the paper passing from saidrollontol the undersideot` I the second platenand thence: yupwardly between it and the drum, an adjustable brake on-the-supplyrolhand means for causing rotation oit the'. secondi platen-consequent upon the rotation of 'the drum. c

y10. The combinationot a rotary printing drinnhaving on its surfacev a longitudinal slidewayparal'lel with the axis, a series ol address plates any of which may be'inounted in said slideway, a roller plateny beneath the l ldrum, ar second/roller platen behind the drum, an inking ribbon mounted on the drum and passing acrossV the address plate, means for supporting a roll of paper, at the rear of the second platem they paper passing vtrom. said; roll onto the underside of the second platen andi-thence upwardly between it "and thel drum, a take-up roll Jfor said strip roll through which paper may be threaded instead of wound onto the take-up roll, and means for causing the rotation of the second platen consequent upon the rotation of the drum.

11. The combination of a rotary drum, a changeable form thereon adapted to make an impression, a set of different forms individually and indiscriminately installable thereon and removable therefrom for each impression, means 'for holding a continu ous strip of paper, and means for making successive impressions on such strip correspondingA tosuccessive imprints on different sheets.

l2. The combination of a rotary drum adapted to carry a changeable form, means for printing thereby, a set of different forms individually and indiscriminately installable thereon and removable therefrom for each impression, means carrying a roll of paper, means for causing an additional impression from said form on paper from said roll, and means for winding in the paper from the roll after the same is printed.

13. The combination of a printing memi ber, a set of different forms individually and indiscriminately installahle thereon and removable therefrom for each impression, a rotary platen coacting with said form, a sec ond rotary platen, and means for supporting y a continuous strip of paper passing between the `second platen and the form to receive successive imprints on the same strip for successive printing,` on different sheets on the first platen. f

14. The combination of a rotary printing drum,v a roller platen coacting with the drum for only a portion of the `cycle of operation to effect printing, a spool adapted to carry a roll of`paper from which the strip passes between the drum and platen, a spool for winding in the paper after leaving` the drum and platen, a brake on the supply roll and a constantly acting friction drive from the drum for the take-up roll, the frictional connection for the take-up being materially lighter than the brake on theA supply roll. In' testimony whereof, I hereunto affix 1n n signature. v

HENRY C. OSBORN. 

